Clippers make move to form bond

Clippers coach Doc Rivers is interviewed by Rick Fox during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers' Blake Griffin and Chris Paul pose for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers' DeAndre Jordon poses during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers' Matt Barnes jokes around with teammates DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers' Jamal Crawford, Darren Collison and Chris Paul, from left, joke around during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers forward Blake Griffin is framed by the arm of Antawn Jamison during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers coach Doc Rivers talks to reporters during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Blake Griffin poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Blake Griffin poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Maalik Wayns walks around during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin are interviewed by Rick Fox during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan waves to teammates during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Matt Barnes is interviewed for Clippers TV during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' J.J. Redick, right, smiles as Byron Mullens and Jared Dudley answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Los Angeles Clippers' Jared Dudley is photographed during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Antawn Jamison pauses in between stations during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Blake Griffin poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Blake Griffin walks between stations during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, Antawn Jamison, and Blake Griffin pose for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Blake Griffin poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Ryan Hollins signs promotional basketballs during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul is videotaped working out for a Clippers' video crew during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Darren Collison and Chris Paul joke around during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' J.J. Redick, center, is told where to go during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers coach Doc Rivers talks to reporters during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Ryan Hollins, Darren Collison and Matt Barnes, all former UCLA players, pose for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Clippers coach Doc Rivers talks to reporters during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

Blake Griffin poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Blake Griffin poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Blake Griffin answers questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

TheClippers' Blake Griffin answers questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin, from left, head onto the stage to answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Blake Griffin answers questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Antawn Jamison signs promotional basketballs during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Antawn Jamison signs promotional basketballs during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Blake Griffin waits to be photographed during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Ryan Hollins, heads onto stage as Willie Green, left, and Matt Barnes, answer questions during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Ryan Hollins, Darren Collison and Matt Barnes, all former Bruins, poses for photos during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 45

The Clippers' Reggie Bullock chats on the phone during a break during the Clippers' 2013 Media Day at their practice facility in Play del Rey Monday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

But before the team can get fitted for rings, the Clippers know they’ve got to put in the work, and that work won’t happen in Los Angeles.

The Clippers open training camp Tuesday in La Jolla, with a clear agenda. Rivers wants to see the team bond.

“I just think it’s great for guys to spend time with each other, especially coming out of the gates,” Rivers said. “They eat together. They go back and forth to practice together. They talk to each other and learn each other a little more.”

Rivers has seen it in the bulk of his NBA coaching career, taking more teams on the road for the start of training camp than not.

But the trip to UC San Diego is much more than a field trip, forcing a team that could have as many as eight new faces on the final roster to grow closer.

There’s a basketball purpose as well, and it starts with Rivers trying to make the Clippers a better team on defense.

The Clippers allowed the fourth-fewest points per game last season (94.6) and the more accurate efficiency numbers, which measure points per 100 possessions, had the team ranked in the top 10.

But, there were still big holes.

“The areas where we struggled were huge,” Rivers said.

The Clippers allowed opponents to hit 37.3 percent from 3-point range last season, 26th in the NBA. The team fouled, a lot, giving up the sixth most free throws in the league. And, for a team with so much athleticism, the Clippers struggled in transition defense.

While Rivers said he won’t be tearing down the defense from a year ago, it will get plenty of attention during training camp.

The other priority will be to concentrate on using better floor spacing on offense, something that should be aided by the acquisitions of outside shooters like J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley.

In addition, the Clippers will begin using Blake Griffin in some different ways.

“I put a lot of focus on my face-up game,” Griffin said. “In talking to Doc, that’s something I’m going to have to do a lot more of this year, face up and be more of a playmaker.”

The team is aware of the outside expectations, and Paul said, they’re even higher internally. Still, there’s no sense in getting too far ahead.

“For us, it’s going to be all about the process,” Paul said. “We can’t control the things people say, the hype, all the good things people say or the bad things. For us, and it sounds cliché, it’s about the guys in our locker room. And it’s about us coming in to practice everyday and preparing.”

NOTES

The Clippers announced the signings of three players to their training camp roster, adding veteran big man Louis Amundson, guard Mustapha Farrakhan and forward JayMychal Green. Amundson is expected to challenge rookie Brandon Davies for a spot on the roster. …The team also announced some front-office moves, notably the addition of Brendan O’Connor to Doc Rivers’ coaching staff. O’Connor spent last season working as an advanced scout for the Brooklyn Nets.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.